Insecticide



Patented ov. 2Q, 1938 UNITED STA cated to the free use of the Fnbiic in the Eerritory of the United States of erica. Ne Drawing. Application September 14, 1936,

Serial No.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30,

This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30, 1928 and the inventing herein described, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for 5 the-Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

I hereby dedicate the invention herein described to the free use of the public in the territory oi. the United States of America to take effect upon the i0 granting of a patent to me.

This invention relates to improvements in materials and methods for destroying or checking the growth or multiplication of insect life which is economically injurious to man.

An object of this invention is to provide a material that is efi'ective in the control of fruit flies.

Another object of this invention is to provide an insecticide that also has fungicidal properties.

Another object of this invention is to provide a material that is non-injurious to the foliage of citrus trees and other vegetation upon which it may be sprayed or dusted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a material that is relatively toxic to insects and relatively non-toxic to man and domestic animals and the presence or which in a spray residue on fruits and vegetables does not constitute a menace to those eating such products.

Another object of this invention is to provide a material that is cheap and can be rea prepared.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a material that is green in color and that does not leave an unsightly deposit when sprayed upon green foliage.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a material that is attractive to insects and induces them to eat oi it and yet contains a poison that kills them.

I have found that copper sucrate is tome to fruit flies especially the Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepkn ludens Wd.) and the Mediterranean iii-int fly (Ceratitis ccta'tcta Wied). Copper sucrate is a compound of the formula, C1:H:2O11.CIJ.(OH):. It is best made by the interaction of cupric hydroxide with a cold concentrated solution of sucrose. The reaction is as follows:

Cupric hydroxide is prepared by adding sodium hydroxide to a cold aqueous solution 01' copper sulphate according to the equation:

per gallons. Flies and after eating it die.

An example of the relative toxicity of copper sucrate, tartar emetic and nicotine tartrate to the Mediterranean fruit fly is as follows:

Hours to kill 100 per cent Copper sucrate, lba/ 100 gals 64 Tartar emetic, 4 lbs./ 100 gals 76 Nicotine tartrate, 2 lbs/100- gals 64 Tartar emetic and nicotine salts are the most efiective poisons now known for combating fruit files but suiler from the disadvantage of being highly poisonous to man. Tartar emetic, except in low concentrations, may injure the fruit and foliage of citrus trees upon which it is sprayed. Having fully disclosed by discovery, I claim: An insecticide containing, its essential active ingredient, copper sucrate.

CHARLES C. PL. 

